Combination drawer and table top



Aug. 2, 1960 H. H. DARBO COMBINATION DRAWER AND TABLE TOP Filed Jan. 3, 1955 I N V EN TOR. 1901mm! fiflarjo Patented Aug. 2, 196.0

COMBINATIQN DRAWER AND TABLE T01 Howard H. Darbo, 1110 N. Wheaton Ave, Wheaten, Ill.

Filed Ian. 3, 1955, Ser. No. 479,613

Claims. (Cl. 312-301) This invention relates to furniture and fixtures, and more particularly to the combination of a drawer and panel which serves as a closure for the drawer when the.

drawer is closed and may, at the election of the person opening the drawer, serve as a table top surface supported by the drawer when it is open.

Although the invention is applicable to drawers of desks or any type of furniture or fixture having a drawer,

one of its most advantageous uses is to be found in association with kitchen cabinets and fixtures. For this reason, the invention is illustrated and. described in this particular environment.

Modern design of kitchens has tended toward the an rangement of all equipment and cabinets with the greatest possible degree of compactness in order to minimize the space required for the kitchen as a matter of building economy and also to conserve the energy of housewives by minimizing distances over which the housewife in carrying out her kitchen duties must walk. One factor which has had a limiting effect in this trend toward designing for compactness is the desirability of adequate table or counter top work space.

Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide additional table top area without increasing in any degree whatever the amount of space required in the kitchen for furniture and fixtures.

Many families find it convenient to serve breakfast in the kitchen because of the necessity for speed in'getting breakfast on the table and flexibility of service necessitated by the fact that different members of the family demand their breakfasts at different times.

Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide temporary table top surface for the service of meals and other uses, the table tops being withdrawn and put out of the way when not required for use.

In some locations and under some circumstances, airborne dirt is carried into the open tops of drawers even while the latter stand closed within the furniture or fixture of which they are a part. Under such conditions, it is desirable to complete the closure of the drawer in order to exclude dirt.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide a panel which serves as a top closure for a drawer while the drawer is closed, but which is retained within the furniture or fixture of which the drawer is a part when the drawer is pulled open so as not to interfere with access to the contents of the drawer.

More, generally, the object of the invention is to provide a combination drawer and table top which will normally serve as an ordinary drawer, but which will provide a cantilever'table by simple manipulation of an exteriorly accessible latch when the drawer is closed.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

which incorporate the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of a portion of the front of a drawer shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the drawer and fixture assembly of Fig. 1 taken approximately at the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the relationship between a table top panel edge and a side of a drawer, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views showing structural details alternative to those shown in Fig. 4 and useful with metal drawer construction.

The structure shown in Fig. 1 is a typical kitchen counter fixture having a table top or work surface 1 and drawers 2 arranged above cabinet space having doors 3, all supported by a front wall 4 and a side 5 forming the body of the fixture. Suitable handles 6 are provided to open the drawers and cabinet doors, each drawer includes the usual front 7, back 8, sides 9, and a bottom not specifically shown in any of the views.

In accordance with the invention an additional element is provided for each drawer. This is a panel 10 of thin, but stiff material, such as hardboard. As will be seen in the drawing, this panel is somewhat wider than the inside distance between drawer sides 9 so that it is supported along at least its side edges by the sides of the drawer. As is best seen in Fig. 4, in the particular construction illustrated, the top edges of sides 9 are rabbeted to provide a notch running the entire length of the side of the drawer and having a vertical side 11 which serves as a lateral guide for panel 10 and a ledge 12 upon which panel 10 rests and upon which it may slide for the purposes hereinafter more fully described. In this particular construction, it will be seen that the panel is set down into the top of the drawer so that the top surface of the panel is approximately flush with the tops of the sides 9 of the drawer. It will be understood that this is only one possible arrangement, and that the panel could rest upon the unnotched top edges of sides 9 of the drawers in which event adequate clearance would have to be provided in the opening in the front wall 4 of the fixture and the side edges of this opening would serve as lateral guides for the panel. Also, strips could be fastened to the inside surfaces of the sides 9 of the drawer, somewhat below the tops thereof to provide guide and supporting slide surfaces for a panel substantially equal in width to the inside width of the drawer.

A suitable latch 13 is mounted upon the front 7 of the drawer. While this latch may take any one of a number of forms, the particular device illustrated for the purpose of describing the invention is a bell crank having arms 14 and 15, the latter having a terminal portion extending at right angles through a slot 16 in front 7 of the drawer and ending in a suitable thumb piece 17 which is affixed thereto for the purpose of moving the free end of arm 15 in the operation of the latch. The crank is pivoted at 18, being mounted upon the interior surface of front 7 of the drawer by means of a pin or screw 19 and washers 2!) and 21. The free end of arm 14 of the crank is provided with an upwardly extending portion 22 adapted to enter a slot or notch 23 provided in the under side of panel 10 panel 10 in its retracted position against the frictional force tending to draw it out as the drawer is opened. It' is so adjusted that it will release the panel when greater than the frictional force is applied, as when the panel is locked to the drawer by means of latch 13 and the drawer is withdrawn. Although any suitablefriction or magnetic catch may be used, that illustrated consists of a small permanent magnet 25 affixed to panel 10 by means of a clamping band 26 screwed or otherwise fastened to the panel adjacent its rear edge. Cooperating withthe magnet to complete thecatch is a strip 27 of a magnetic metal fastened to the rear. wall 24 of the fixture structure. Desirably, strip 27 extends some distance across the surface of wall'2 4 and is provided with an integral flange 28 which serves as a ledge to support the back portion of panel 10, as when the drawer is'o'pened and the panel left in retracted position.

From. the foregoing description, it will be understood that the drawer structure may be used in the ordinary way, as a drawer, or it may be employed to provide a table top surface at the option of the person withdrawing it from its retracted position in the counter fixture. If it is desired to open the drawer for access to the contents thereof, the drawer is pulled out by its handle in the usual way. It may be fully opened, as shown in the right side of Fig. 1, panel 10 being held against Withdrawal with the drawer by the catch device. If, on the other hand, the table top surface is desired, latch 13 is manipulated, as with the thumb, by moving thumb piece 17 toward the handle 6 to lock the latch with notch 23 after which the drawer, together with panel 10, is pulled out to the desired position as, for example, shown in Fig. 1. In either case, closing of the drawer will result in thepositioning of panel 10 as a closure therefor, as shown in Fig. 3.

If desired, asuitable spring may be employed to insure return of the latch to its normal position as shown in Fig. 2, although the weight of the longer arm 14 will generally be sufiicient for this purpose.

Suitable means for supporting and guiding panel 10 in drawers fabricated from sheet metal are illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In both of these devices, a flange 29 provides a ledge for support of the panel. A somewhat more complete guiding groove is provided in the structure shown in Fig. 6 in which an additional flange 30 extends somewhat over the top surfaces of panel adjacent the sides thereof. This construction also provides a more finished appearance.

It will be understood that the principle of the invention may be applied by means of a wide variety of different forms of the structural elements involved. It is intended that the appended claims will include within their scope all such mechanically equivalent devices.

Invention is claimed as follows:

1. In combination with a drawer having sides and a front, a thin panel spanning the width of said drawer and slidably supported at its side edges by the sides of said drawer, catch means fastened to said panel and adapted to be anchored to fixed structure at the rear of Said drawer to retain said panel normally in fixed retracted position without regard to the position of said drawer, and latch means mounted upon the front of said drawer, said latch means having an operating element exposed for manipulation exteriorly at the front of said drawer and being arranged to lock said panel and said drawer against relative movement in one position of said operating element and to permit independent movement of said drawer and panel in another position of said op: erating element of said latch means, the arrangement 'of said drawer, panel, catch and latch means being such that said latch means is always in position to lock said panel and drawer against relative movement by manipulation of said operating element when said drawer is'closed.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the panel is of such size that it forms a substantially complete closure for the drawerwhen said drawer is closed.

3. In combination with a drawer having sides and a front, a thin panel spanning the width of said drawer and slidably resting at its sideedges upon the sides of said drawer, catch means fastened to said panel and tt sted t e anshor d 1c fixed r ture at .ther fi f 9t rangement of said drawer, panel, catch and latch being such that said latch is always in position to lock said panel and drawer against relative movement when said drawer is closed.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein said latch comprises a bell crank pivotally mounted upon the inner surface of the front of said drawer, one arm thereof being substantially vertical and having an extension extending at right angles thereto through "an opening in the front of said drawer, the other arm being substantially horizontal and having a terminus adapted to engage the stop of the panel upon sidewise movement of said firstmentioned arm.

5. In combination with a drawer having sides and a front, the top edges of said sides being notched throughout their lengths to provide horizontal slide and vertical guide surfaces, a thin panel spanning the distance between said vertical guide surfaces and resting at its edges upon said horizontal slide surfaces, catch means fastened to said panel and adapted to be anchored to fixed structure at the rear of said drawer to retain said panel normally in fixed retracted position without regard to the position of said drawer, and latch means mounted upon the front of said drawer, said latch means having an operating element exposed for manipulation exteriorly at the front of,

said drawer and being arranged to lock said panel and said drawer against relative movement in one position of said operating element and to permit independent movement of said drawer and panel in another position of said operating element of said latch means, the arrangement of said drawer, panel, catch and latch means being such that said latch means is always in position to lock said panel and drawer against relative movement by manipulation of said operating element'when said drawer is closed.

6. In combination with a drawer having sheet metal sides and a front, a thin panel spanning the width of said drawer and forming a substantially complete top closure therefor, flanges spaced from the top edges of the sides of said drawer a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said panel and extending under the edge marginal portions thereof to slidably support said panel, catch means fastened to said panel and adapted to be anchored to fixed structure at the rear of said drawer to retain said panel normally in fixed retracted position without regard to the position of said drawer, and latch means mounted upon the front of said drawer, said latch means having an operating element exposed for manipulation exteriorly at the front of said drawer and being arranged to lock said panel and said drawer against relative movement in.

movement by manipulation of said operating element when said drawer is closed.

7. In combination with a drawer having sides and a front, each said side having a groove extending the length thereof adjacent the top thereof, a panel adapted to form a closure for said drawer and slidably mounted in said grooves, catch means fastened to said panel and adapted to be anchored to fixed structure at the rear of said drawer to retain said panel normally in fixed retracted position without regard to the position of said drawer, and latch means mounted upon the front of said drawer, said latch means having an operating element exposed for manipulation exteriorly at the front of said drawer and being arranged to lock said panel and said drawer against relative movement in one position of said operating element and to permit independent movement of said drawer and panel in another position of said operating element of said latch means, the arrangement of said drawer, panel, catch and latch means being such that said latch means is always in position to lock said panel and drawer against relative movement by manipulation of said operating element when said drawer is closed.

8. In a structure including a drawer slidably supported in the structure and having sides and a front, a thin panel supported at its edges by said drawer sides, a catch having one part thereof fixedly mounted upon said structure and a cooperating part fastened to said panel and in catch engagement with said one part when said panel is in retracted position without regard to the position of said drawer, and a latch having one part thereof aflixed to said drawer and a cooperating part associated with said panel in fixed relation thereto, said one part of said latch having an operating element exposed for manipulation exteriorly at the front of said drawer and being arranged to lock said panel and said drawer against relative movement in one position of said operating element and to permit independent movement of said drawer and panel in another position of said operating element of said latch means, the arrangement of said drawer, panel, catch and latch means being such that said latch means is always in position to lock said panel and drawer against relative movement by manipulation of said operating element when said drawer is closed.

9. The construction of claim 8 wherein the operating element of the latch is exposed for manipulation adjacent a handle for said drawer.

10. In combination with a drawer having sides and a front, a thin panel spanning the width of said drawer and slidably supported at its side edges by the sides of said drawer, catch means fastened to said panel and adapted to be anchored to fixed structure at the rear of said drawer to retain said panel normally in fixed retracted position Without regard to the position of said drawer, and latch means mounted upon the front of said drawer, said latch means being arranged to lock said panel and said drawer against relative movement in one position of said latch means, and to permit independent movement thereof in another position of said latch means, the arrangement of said drawer, panel, catch and latch means being such that said latch means is always in position to lock said panel and drawer against relative movement by manipulation of said operating element when said drawer is closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 800,040 Wilmot Sept. 19, 1905 880,023 Harding Feb. 25, 1908 1,910,156 Ericson May 23, 1933 2,000,334 Kahn May 7, 1935 

